High Approval in Ontario for CPP Expansion

In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1183 Ontario voters, as many
as two thirds approve of the recent federal government agreement to expand CPP
(63%), and this approval is especially common to the oldest (55+ - 70%),
females (66%) rather than males (52%), the least wealthy (less than $20K - 68%),
in the city of Toronto (69%), among Liberals (82%) and New Democrats (76%), but
not among Progressive Conservatives (45%).

Plurality thinks CPP paid too little
prior to expansion

When asked if the
original target of CPP, about 25% of pre-retirement income was too little or
too much, the plurality, more than 4-in-10 say it was too little (43%), while
just one tenth thinks it too much (10%). Three-in-ten thinks 25% is “about
right” (29%). As many as one fifth don’t know (19%).

Plurality approves of cancelling ORPP in
favour of CPP expansion

The plurality, close
to one half, approves of the Ontario government’s decision to cancel the ORPP
once CPP expansion had been achieved (45%), while just 3-in-10 disapprove
(31%), and close to one quarter have no opinion (23%).

Plurality agrees ORPP cancellation, CPP
expansion is best course

When presented with
four options regarding the intersection of CPP and ORPP, the winning choice
(though not by much) was to expand CPP and cancel the ORPP (31%), followed by
those who wished to expand CPP and still keep the ORPP (21%). A proportion just
greater than a tenth thinks neither the CPP expansion nor the ORPP is necessary
(13%, twice this proportion among PCs - 26%). Very few think the ORPP should be
kept but CPP expansion cancelled (5%).

“It is clear CPP
expansion is popular with voters, especially the older ones, for whom pension
reform has always been a hot button issue. Moreover, it appears the voters
understand the purpose of the ORPP was primarily to prompt national pension
reform, and they agree that, now that goal is achieved, the ORPP has served its
purpose and can disappear" said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne
Bozinoff.

Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.